[VOL.30] Kinki Pentagram Pilgrimage, The Circle of Sacred Protection ①

Hello.
Thank you for always reading my blog.

Ever since I read Shiki Sakurai's book "Nihon no Kekkai Fushigi Meguri" and learned about the Pentagram Pilgrimage, I have been visiting the Kinki Pentagram almost every year.

Previously, I would complete the entire journey in two days, but considering the fatigue from travel and the need for focus during worship, I have changed the plan to three days this time.

Rules of the Pentagram Pilgrimage

Features and How to Visit

Purpose:
It is said that by casting (drawing) a pentagram barrier in Onmyodo, one can receive great blessings and protection.

Order of Visit:
This is a style of worship where you connect five power spots in a star shape on a map and visit them in a clockwise direction, as if drawing with a single stroke.

It seems you must choose either all shrines or all temples. Also, you need to bring a map that includes the locations (with shrine names) of the shrines you will visit.

You can start from anywhere, but you must visit them in order to draw the pentagram in a single stroke.

Completion (Kechigan):
After visiting all five locations, returning to the starting point (or paying respects to the starting point again) is called "Kechigan," and it is said that the barrier is completed.

Worship must be done before sunset; nighttime visits do not count.

You cannot visit other shrines or temples while on the pilgrimage.

At each shrine, you should silently recite the same phrases, such as "Haraetamae, Kiyometamae" and other prayers, along with your address, name, date of birth, the fact that you are on a Pentagram Pilgrimage, and a brief mention of your current route and schedule.

Purchase an amulet or a wooden plaque at each shrine or temple.

(Amulets are said to be effective for six months, and wooden plaques for one year.)

For those interested in more details, please read Shiki Sakurai's book "Nihon no Kekkai Fushigi Meguri."

Composition of the Kinki Pentagram

Kansai (Kinki) Pentagram Pilgrimage

This is the most popular route.

You can start anywhere, but for example, starting from Ise Jingu:

1. Ise Jingu Naiku (Ise City, Mie Prefecture): One of Japan's largest shrines.
2. Moto-Ise Naiku Kotai Shrine (Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture): The original shrine of Ise.
3. Kumano Hongu Taisha (Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture): The end point of the Kumano Kodo.
4. Mount Ibuki Summit (Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture): Energy infusion at the summit (using the driveway).
5. Izanagi Jingu (Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture): Dedicated to the creator deities.

And finally, the route returns to Ise Jingu Naiku.

My route this time is Ise Jingu Naiku, Moto-Ise Naiku Kotai Shrine, Kumano Hongu Taisha, Nangu Taisha, and Izanagi Jingu.

The reason for changing from Mount Ibuki summit to Nangu Taisha is that when I first planned it, I didn't research it well, and when I headed there, the driveway was closed 😢

Also, since it is not a shrine, you cannot purchase wooden plaques or amulets there.
(It is said that a bear bell can be used as a substitute.)

Closure of Mount Ibuki and Change to Nangu Taisha

The operating period of the Mount Ibuki Driveway is usually from the third Saturday of April to the last Sunday of November.

It is closed during the winter, so checking in advance is essential.

Nangu Taisha is the Ichinomiya of Mino Province, dedicated to Kanayamahiko-no-Mikoto, and is known as the god of financial luck, mines, and metalworking.

Confirmed Pilgrimage Route

⛩Ise Jingu Naiku → ⛩Moto-Ise Naiku Kotai Shrine → ⛩Kumano Hongu Taisha → ⛩Nangu Taisha →
⛩Izanagi Jingu → ⛩Ise Jingu Naiku

I decided to take three days to complete this clockwise single-stroke route.

3-Day Schedule

[Day 1] Ise Jingu Naiku → Moto-Ise Naiku Kotai Shrine
[Day 2] Kumano Hongu Taisha → Nangu Taisha
[Day 3] Izanagi Jingu → Ise Jingu Naiku

Finally, I will return to Ise Jingu Naiku to report the completion of the vow.

April 17th

This pilgrimage started on April 17th from Ise Jingu Naiku.

Under the soft spring sunlight, I passed through the torii gate of Ise Jingu Naiku.

9:45 Ise Jingu Naiku (Kotai Jingu)

Ise Jingu Naiku is the place where Amaterasu Omikami, said to be the ancestral deity of all Japanese people, is enshrined.

Blessings such as the fulfillment of wishes, family safety, and work luck are often spoken of.

It is basic practice to refrain from making personal wishes at the main sanctuary and instead pray for the peace of the entire nation.

At the Aramatsuri-no-miya located in the back, many people seem to quietly convey their personal wishes.

Ise Jingu has a tradition of performing the Shikinen Sengu every 20 years, where the shrine buildings are rebuilt.

Because of this, a fresh sense of holiness is always maintained.

On this day as well, the air of the Isuzu River in the morning was a little chilly, and the temperature of the wind blowing over the river surface was completely different from that in the city.

At the main sanctuary, I silently recited my prayers, address, name, and date of birth, and prayed for this pentagram route and the three-day schedule.

I received a wooden plaque and a goshuin (shrine seal) at the shrine office.

Summary

The Kinki Pentagram Pilgrimage is not just a tour of power spots.

It is a circle of sacred protection where you connect five holy sites to draw your own barrier.

By reviewing my plan from two days to three days this time, it became much easier both physically and mentally, and it became much easier to balance travel and worship.

I think the effects and blessings vary from person to person, but I feel that my luck and fortune have definitely improved since I started visiting.

If you are thinking about a Pentagram Pilgrimage in the Kansai area, please plan with safety as your top priority, setting a number of days and a route that suits your own pace, while checking official information.

Next time, I will introduce "Moto-Ise Naiku Kotai Shrine" in detail.

Thank you for reading until the end.

May this article gently push you on your journey.

Please have a wonderful day.

📚 Related articles you might also like to read

For those who want to deepen their shrine visits and spirituality 📚